Telephone dial markings



NOV. 23, 1943. A, c A m 2,334,903

TELEPHONE DIAL MARKINGS Filed Sept. 19, 1942 Patented Nov. 23, 1943UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,334,903 TELEPHONE DIAL MAnKmcs Russell A.Chapin, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application September 19, 1942, Serial No. 458,963

2 Claims.

My invention relates more particularly to markings on the manuallyoperated dials of the automatic telephone, and has among its salientobjects: to provide an improvement in the markings on the dial whichwill make it possible to accurately dial a number when the light ispoor, or even in the dark, and this is accomplished by marking, ordistinguishing certain of the finger openings in the dial so that by thesense of touch, or by a more pronounced color, these openings willalways be easily located, either by sight or by touch, and from these itis very easy to locate the other openings of any particular number whichit is desired to dial. For example, if the openings for the numerals 4and 7 are distinguished or differentiated from the other numbers, thenumbers 1, 2 and 3 at one side, or 5 and 6 at the other side of the 4,can be quickly and easily located either by touch, or, if the light isdim, by the differentiating color, as it is preferable that theseparticular locations be differentiated by being raised and also by theuse of a distinguishing color, as white on black.

Sometimes the position of the dial is so positioned that the operatorcannot get a straight view thereof, but must see the dial at an angle,whereby the numbers cannot be seen with clearmess, but with thediiferentiated openings, it is easy, with a little practice, to operatethe correct numbers even though they are not clearly visible to theuser.

I have found by actual experimentation, that; more accurate dialing andfaster dialing can be accomplished with my improved markings or dialdifferentiations than can be done with the present dial when theposition of the dial is not convenient, or when the light is dim, andthat a blind person can accurately dial a number with my improvedmarkings as soon as he has become acquainted with the differentiatingfeatures.

In order to more fully explain my invention, I have illustrated the sameon the accompanying sheet of drawings, which I will now describe:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a telephone dial embodying my invention,certain finger openings being differentiated by a coat of white enamelpaint, and also with two bar-like strips painted in the blank spacethereon;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a plan View of another embodiment of my invention in whichthe dial openings are differentiated by overlying metal portions,instead of the painted difierentiation;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5, of Fig.3.

' Referring now to the drawing more in detail, I have shown in plan viewthe usual dial of the automatic telephone without the usual numerals 0rindicia thereon, showing only the differentiation features constitutingmy invention. The dial to be manipulated in all the views is designated1, with the usual finger openings 8 therethrough, and under which theusual numeral card is placed when that is to be used.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown painted on the dial, aswith white enamel paint, over the openings which would normally be overthe numerals 4 and '7, a tapering area for each, designated 9 and II],respectively. These differentiate these particular openings 4 and 7 inthe color contrast, so as to be seen when the light is dim, but also,the coat of enamel paint would be slightly raised and could be felt withthe fingers as they are moved over the dial, thus making it easy tolocate the particular dial openings for the numerals 4 and '7, by sighteven when the light is poor, or by touch because the coat of enamelpaint is raised over this area around these particular openings. On thisdial I have also painted two bar-like strips, as H and I2. Thesebar-like strips extend across the opposite side of the dial, in the areabetween the first and last finger openings in the dial, and at oppositesides of the stop element l3, on most phone dial mechanisms. The paintedareas for the finger openings 4 and 7, and also the bar-like strips IIand I2, extend, preferably across the dial proper and up a shortdistance on to the center cap name plate, as indicated in the drawing.

By thus being able to locate the particular dial numeral positions 4 and'7, it is a very easy thing to quickly, by touch, locate any of therelated numerals, 1, 2 and 3, on one side of the 4, 5 and 6 on the otherside thereof, of the '7, also differentiated and then the 8, 9 and 0.The addition of the bar-like strips H and I2, also facilitate the quickdetermination of the normal position of the dial before dialing anumber.

In Fig. 3, I have shown the dial plate, designated 1 and with the fingeropenings 8 therethrough, but instead of painting the differentiatingarea about the numeral positions 4 and '7, I have shown the centerretaining cap member M, as having formed as a part thereof two overlyingextensions l5 and Hi, to overlie the numeral positions 4 and 7,respectively, and at the opposite side, also having formed as a partthereof, the two bars I! and I8, in the same positions that the paintedbar-like strips H and I2 are, relative to the stop element I3. Thisannular cap or retaining ring 14 also has formed thereon the toelikeextensions I4 to be inserted down through openings in the dial 1 forholding it and the name or phone number card in place therein, in thecenter of the dial in the usual manner.

Other ways could be used to difierentiate certain numeral positions, orfinger openings, to make them easily located or known in poor light, oreven in the dark by the sense of touch, and from which it is easy toquickly locate the particular numeral positions by the sense of touchfrom these differentiated locations, and rad not shown for accomplishingthat purpose, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. A telephone dial having finger openings for manipulation, all in thesame plane, and having an intermediate finger opening differentiated bya raised area for location thereof by touch and from which to locateother finger openings for dialing purposes.

2. A telephone dial of the character shown and described operablewithout numerals and letters and having finger openings formanipulation, some of said finger openings being differentiated tobe'located by the sense of touch, the differentiating means being araised surface around said opening, and other raised means associatedwith the first and last openings of said dial for aid in locating thesame by touch.

RUSSELL A. CHAPIN.

